The King’s Courtier

Chapter 3 - Sulfurasious Kingdom

   Iliyus seemed distant when Aurelia had went to say her final goodbyes. He was acting strange, but perhaps she couldn't judge how he was coping with her leave. She had never seen him so... cold. 

He almost looked as if he didn't care, and she didn't understand why. Perhaps he was just hiding his emotions but she knew that eyes can't lie. One day she would see him again. One day she would crawl out of the void if she had to so she could hug him one last time and appreciate his soft smiles. She vowed it to the gods above.

She was now three days along her journey to the castle, and she would reach in a matter of hours. If she was nervous, she did not let it show through her hazel eyes that were sparkling like fresh honey in response to the gleaming sun.

Those handling the ship were staring at her since the second she got on the ship. She hadn't realized that those outside her category haven't seen her, and that the only reason those in the category weren't constantly gawking was because they were used to her extraordinary beauty. Outside her category, she would have to deal with drooling men and harassing stares. 

Pathetic, she thought. How shallow all these men were to only see her as a beautiful piece of meat to undress with their eyes. She could beat every single one of those buff men to pulps, and due to their shallowness they would never anticipate her strength. If they were the king's warriors, this would be their weakness and she could had obliterated them on the spot. 

She could see the castle nearing as two men carried her luggage -all filled with lingerie- to the deck. The carriage ride to the castle was short, but she couldn't help but feel as ever so shallow as the other men when her jaw dropped at the sight of the beautiful kingdom. The waterfall looked straight out of a painting. It was so huge and glorious that the rainbow directly above it seemed insignificant. The trees were the perfect shade of vibrant green and the castle — oh the castle.

The castle was as big as the former Australia. She couldn't believe how many doors and floors a single castle could have. The architecture was beautiful and the heads of the castle were so long that one side disappeared into the perfectly stationed clouds. The castle appeared to float as the very bottom floor was made out of glass to show all the beautiful paintings located inside. It looked like an exhibition, or a museum of sorts. She had heard about the glass exhibition, where all the best paintings of the centuries were located. It was an honor for all those in the artist category. 

She walked towards the infamous door, beholding the large frame made of jewels and diamonds. The guards, despite being well trained, stuttered slightly when telling Aurelia that the king will be arriving soon. Another flaw and weakness. She stood at the door along with the men who carried her luggage and the guards standing before her as the magical door opened ever so graciously.

"Aurelia Hemmingsworth." Silk. Silk cannot talk nor communicate, but if it by some twist of faith could, this would be how it would sound. No one, not even Iliyus, had ever said her name so smoothly and graciously. The sound alone sent shivers down her spine. It demanded authority and respect, while sounding elegant and mystic. She refused to look up at the man the voice belonged to. She simply refused to look up, to confirm all the tales about his dashing looks. 

She hid her discomfort and disobedience by an elegant bow that she was trained to do since birth. "Your majesty." She responded elegantly, still facing the floor to hide both her discomfort and distaste. She heard footsteps nearing and her heart nearly dropped.

A gloved finger slowly reached her face and raised her chin. The very first second she met his eyes felt like a long hour. His eyes were the brightest and most beautiful shade of brown. The slashes of yellow in his eyes were shining with amusement as her jaw absolutely dropped. She hadn't looked at the rest of his face seeing that he was so near, but his eyes alone were hypnotizing. She couldn't look away.

He dropped his finger with a small chuckle and stepped back to look at Aurelias face and figure.

To her satisfaction, his jaw slowly opened at the sight of her. She only allowed a single glance at his full face, completely understanding all the tales of women dying on the spot. His jaw was sharp. Perhaps in his free time he cut glass with it. 

His cheekbones were bold and slowly rising as he once again started smiling. She truly wished he hadn't smiled because it was near impossible to look away now. His hair was as black as night, which further outlined his other features. She could tell he was rather impressed by her, which sent a wave of relief down her lean figure. 

"Would you care to come in, Lady Aurelia?" Lady. King Sulfur called her a Lady.

"I would be delighted to, King Sulfur." No one was to mention his name, her arrogance alone could had cost her life right that moment, but to her surprise, King Sulfur's eyebrows rose in shock and the hint of amusement in his eyes only increased.

King Sulfur was to only be referred to as 'your highness', 'your majesty', or 'my king'. He felt that calling out his name was a disrespectful gesture, as if having his name rolled off their filthy tongues was offensive. She mentally rolled her eyes, refraining from physically doing it since she didn't want her head hanging on the head of the castle.

The king was very arrogant. But perhaps he had earned it, taking over all of Elexia at only the age twenty. It was an outstanding accomplishment.

Aurelia silently wished that she would one day have the same will he did at that young age. She not only wanted to be as willful as the king, but more accomplished and powerful. She strived off success. 

Everyone around her was incredibly tense as they all knew she disrespected him in front of his court. The king was certain that she knew what referring to him as 'king sulfur' meant. Those raised in the oblivion were given lessons on mannerism and she had been trained all her life for this moment. So he didn't miss her intentional disrespect.

"Well then, after you. You seem to already feel at home Miss Aurelia. Tell me, does my humble home remind you of your cottage in 'oblivion' as you all tend to call it?" He smirked. The only sign that he wasn't gonna skin her alive for her arrogance.

"Of course not, your majesty." She held her chin up and worked up a flustered smile, aiming to distract the King with flirtation. 

He merely looked at her again before gesturing at the guards to open the door. To her surprise, the door suddenly started talking.

It didn't particularly seem like magic. More so like modern technology; one of the many innovations those in the oblivion were deprived of.

"The rules are simple. Admit to all rebellious thoughts before entering through this door or be electrocuted upon entry. Further instructions will be given if and only if you survive this stage." 

She had heard about this, but to see it first hand was a whole other concept. She now had to tell the king how she hated him, and either she would be killed or sent back to oblivion immediately. Honestly, back to iliyus seemed like a better faith than losing her virtue to King Sulfur anyways.

"I am Aurelia Hemmingsworth. I have disliked the king since the age sixteen. I see him for what he is, cruel, unlawful and awful. But out of obligation to my category, I will not do anything to hurt, harm or kill the king and will serve and service him as he sees fit. I will fulfill the requirements of my task until he tires of me, but I will not lie about my true emotions"

Never had she seen so many jaws on the floor. Even the door appeared in shock - if that was physically possible. The guards, still open mouthed, shifted towards their swords preparing for a m******e, but then the most beautiful noise on earth came to light.

King sulfur laughed, and laughed, and laughed. The shock on everyone's face told her that he seldom does that with such pure genuineness. He maintained his grin even as his laughter halted. "Very well then, do enter."

"Um, your highness... One more thing. I had also vowed to punch you once my duties are fulfilled. I wouldn't wanna get electrocuted for such minor details." She said, now a nervous wreck as she walked towards the door.

She had to pass the infamous door, and if she was to survive, she was to never lie until she once again stepped out of the door. She wasn't sure if all her knowledge was accurate or over exaggerated rumors, but she prepared for the worst and hoped for the best as she walked through the door.

To her surprise, she passed the door still alive. She didn't dare turn her back to the king so she turned around and waited for him to throw his daggers at her for everything she had just said. 

He couldn't help but think that never in all his years of ruling has anyone dared look at him wrong, let alone speak the things she'd dare say. 

He was bewildered by her attitude. He was notorious for breaking down bold souls, but he wished to take his time with this one. He could have the rare adrenaline that came from defiance while also having the satisfaction of shaping her into a submissive obedient little girl.

Had it been anyone else, the king would simply take off his glove and lay a smooth punch to their face, sending them off the face of Elexia. Yet he couldn't feel the amusement he felt when she had said those words. 

Aurelia looked at the king who hadn't yet entered the castle. She figured he was planning all the ways he could implement the element of surprise and kill her on the spot. Or perhaps he was planning on killing her slowly, making her regret every single disobedient word. She couldn't resist shuddering at the thought.

Looking at the king before her, she wanted to scream to the world 'you were all wrong! You underestimated him! He is far more gorgeous than we all assumed'. The tales of women dying at the sight of him brought shame to is beauty. She was sure both men and women physically shrank at the sight of him, feeling like they are witnessing the most beautiful view on Elexia.

He walked in a short while later, the guards stationing at the front door and some servants coming down to collect her luggage from the men outside. None of the guards not coachmen stepped in the castle. So it was in fact true that not many were allowed the privilege of walking through the infamous door. As she turned to the castle, she could not believe her eyes.